Rajya Sabha stands still after uproar over Telangana, other issues

Failing to transact any business in the house, Rajya Sabha was adjourned today after uproar by members over Telangana issue, killing of a student from Arunachal Pradesh in Delhi and plight of Tamil fishermen

New Delhi: Failing to transact any business in the house, Rajya Sabha was adjourned today after uproar by members over Telangana issue, killing of a student from Arunachal Pradesh in Delhi and plight of Tamil fishermen.

The Upper House saw two adjournments in the pre-lunch sitting and was finally adjourned for the day minutes after it met at 2 PM. Soon after the House met for the day, members of different parties demanded a discussion on the death of Nido Taniam after he was beaten up in the national capital last week.

As Chairman Hamid Ansari agreed to the discussion, Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) rose to speak but AIADMK members rushed to the Well demanding a discussion on the arrest of Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy.

Carrying placards, TDP members also came rushing to the Well opposing the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Ansari pleaded with the agitating members to respect the dead.

However, as din continued, he adjourned the House till noon. When the House reassembled, TDP members C M Ramesh and Y S Choudhary trooped into the Well opposing any move to carve out a separate Telangana from Andhra Pradesh. They were carrying placards of “Save Andhra Pradesh”.

AIADMK and DMK members too rushed to the Well protesting against the arrest of Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy and displayed placards saying “Save Tamil Fishermen”.

SP, Left and Akali Dal members were also on their feet raising various issues, which could not be heard in the din. BJP members highlighted various scams, including fresh revelations by a middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper dead, while those from AGP and others raised the issue of safety of Northeast students. As pandemonium continued, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien adjourned the House till 2 PM. When the Rajya Sabha reassembled, similar scenes were witnessed.

Sensing the mood of the members, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien adjourned the House for the day.